In the Area

In the early 20th century, the Grand Canyon Railway was the plushest way to the park, and in 1990 a wealthy couple invested millions of dollars to restore the train to its former glory. The railway offers several tiers of tickets, from pullman class up to a luxury observation dome, but there isn’t a bad seat for admiring the high-desert landscape and spotting elk and pronghorn and cattle along the way. Families will also enjoy the antics of occasional “Western performers” who roam the aisles. Food and drink are available on-board, where only credit cards are accepted. in the winter, this ride becomes even more festive when it transforms into the Polar Express.

The city of Williams is organized around Historic Route 66, which runs through it roughly east-west, parallel to the train tracks, and is lined with shops and restaurants. If you plan to park overnight, make sure to use one of the side-streets; the town tickets vehicles parked on Route 66 between 2am and 6am.

There are a handful of lakes and reservoirs near Williams where you can fish or boat, including Dogtown Reservoir, Cataract Lake, and Kaibab Lake. (Some of the water in them is destined for human consumption, so swimming is prohibited).

To experience the wending Colorado River, which carved the Grand Canyon, visitors can join a day-long rafting trip with Hualapai River Runners. The voyage traverses 40 miles of the river including includes 12 miles of rapids, and includes a moderate hike and short climb to Travertine Cavern Falls and lunch along a sandy beach.

For a walk on the wild side, you might try this exotic animal park, located on a 158-acre parcel of land east of town. Opened in 2010 by a pair of brothers who had themselves grown up on a drive-thru animal park in South Dakota, Bearizona takes in animals that cannot be released to the wild, including a trio of orphaned grizzly bear cubs that arrived in 2020. The enclosures are fairly small but the park is accredited by the Zoological Association of America

Those who do not fear darkness or cramped spaces should consider visiting this mile-long subterranean lava tube, located about 45-minutes east of town. Wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes for scrambling over the damp and sharp rocks, and bring a flashlight with a backup — it is dark in there if your batteries fail.